Albanian students and protesters clash with police in Tirana, demanding Prime Minister Rama's resignation

From a tourism project to a student revolt

Albania's protest movement began in late May, when Albanians took to the streets over a multimillion-euro tourism development in the protected coastal area of Zvërnec, near Vlorë. The project is linked to Jared Kushner, son-in-law of US President Donald Trump. Demonstrators, some carrying pictures of pink flamingos, gathered in Tirana on consecutive days over the summer and called for Prime Minister Edi Rama to step down. Rama, who has led the government since 2013 and is serving a fourth term, stayed largely silent as the movement grew. Participation fell over the summer without any government concessions, but in mid-October a new student movement emerged, demanding action on tuition fees, textbook costs and the cost of living, and high school pupils joined it.

Clashes spread to several cities

Demonstrations turned violent in Tirana and quickly spread to Durrës, Shkodër, Lezhë, Vlorë, Gjirokastër and Korçë. Hooded protesters threw stones and pieces of marble at the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Finance, according to NewsIT, and the entrance door of the Finance Ministry was broken and set alight. A fire broke out on one floor of the Ministry of Education, while fires and damage also hit other government buildings and private businesses. BBC footage showed protesters throwing molotov cocktails at police, who responded with tear gas, water cannons, stun grenades and batons. Images of a young protester with a broken leg circulated online and further inflamed the situation. A female law lecturer was injured outside the Ministry of Education while supporting the students.

Casualty and arrest figures differ between reports

The sources give different counts. NewsIT, reporting on the clashes of Friday, 16 October, cited 324 detentions, 152 arrests and 120 injured police officers as of its reporting on 17 October. DW, citing police, put the number of injured officers at 71 and reported 152 arrests and 324 people under investigation over the three days of protests. Both outlets report injuries among protesters as well as police, and the figures should be read as snapshots taken at different hours.

Rama's response and the call to resign

Rama remained silent during the first two days of the violent phase. On Thursday, 15 October, at 08:03 local time, he released a video recorded in the College of Europe building, which had been damaged by fire and stands a few metres from his office on Tirana's main boulevard. He described the unrest as the work of an opposition hiding behind masked people. He also said his duty was to protect citizens, guarantee justice and carry out the mandate of the governing majority, which he said aims at European Union membership by 2030. Eliza Spiropali, a Socialist MP and former foreign minister, sent Rama a personal letter arguing that the crisis cannot be solved with statements or political excuses, and calling for a hearing, an admission of mistakes and effective decisions. Protesters say they will not negotiate on any of their other demands while Rama remains in office.

Corruption allegations and the rally ahead

Anger among demonstrators is fed by a growing list of allegations that ministers and senior officials are involved in corruption scandals. A former deputy prime minister has left the country, and another was forced to resign because of judicial investigations, according to NEWS 24/7. Protesters also object to the impunity they see after these scandals. Calls have gone out to Albanians in the diaspora to hold demonstrations in cities where they live and work. Organizers have planned a large gathering in Tirana at 19:00 local time on 17 October, while riot police and water cannons remain deployed near the Ministry of Education.